Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu joins Stuttgart on season-long loan

Chelsea’s Oriol Romeu will spend a second season away from Stamford Bridge after the Blues confirmed a loan move to Stuttgart.

The Spanish midfielder, who joined Chelsea in 2011, spent last term with Valencia.

And the 22-year-old has again been farmed out by boss Jose Mourinho to continue his development, this time with German side Stuttgart.

Romeu last month put pen to paper on a new three-year deal with the west London outfit, leading Chelsea fans to believe he would form part of Mourinho’s plans for the coming campaign, possibly at the expense of John Obi Mikel.

But Mourinho’s plans for the young midfielder appear to be more long-term.

A statement on the Chelsea website said: ‘Oriol Romeu has today [Monday] joined Stuttgart on a season-long loan.

‘The midfielder, 22, who recently signed a three-year contract at Stamford Bridge, heads to the German top flight.’